A forklift crash at Menards’ Eau Claire distribution center has turned into a multimillion-dollar reckoning. An Eau Claire County jury has ordered Menard, Inc. to pay $5.5 million to a worker injured in a 2019 incident that left him with permanent injuries, closing a civil fight that has stretched across several years. Attorney Chris MacGillis, who tried the case, said the verdict sends a clear message about workplace safety for large employers.
According to MacGillis Law Group, the plaintiff, a 46-year-old truck driver, was struck in the head by metal pallets that were being moved by a temporary worker operating a forklift at the Menards Eau Claire distribution center in 2019. He required emergency surgery. The firm says jurors placed no fault on the truck driver and entered a $5.5 million judgment in case no. 22-CV-0521.
Reporting from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel notes the case has been active since 2020 and that jurors returned their verdict earlier this month. At an April 28 press conference, MacGillis described the crash as “preventable.” The Journal Sentinel also reported that Menards did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the verdict.
What jurors heard
At trial, MacGillis presented evidence that Menards failed to properly certify, train and supervise the temporary forklift operator, according to the plaintiff’s lawyers. The firm says it also highlighted prior, similar incidents at other Menards distribution centers. Menards, the firm added, argued that the load may have fallen on its own and attempted to shift blame to the temp agency. Jurors were not persuaded and assigned full responsibility to Menard, Inc., after hearing from multiple employees and reviewing documentary evidence.
OSHA standards and reporting
Federal rules require employers to develop powered industrial truck training programs and ensure operators are competent before working unsupervised, per OSHA's powered industrial truck guidance. Employers must also quickly notify the agency after serious incidents, including a fatality within eight hours and in-patient hospitalizations, amputations or loss of an eye within 24 hours, as outlined on OSHA's reporting page. Plaintiff's counsel said the evidence at trial shows OSHA standards and reporting obligations were not followed in this case.
Legal outlook
Because this is a civil judgment, Menards or its insurer could still seek post-trial relief, ask the court for remittitur or file an appeal, any of which could stretch the final resolution for months or even years. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported the company had not returned requests for comment after the verdict became public. If Menards appeals, it may argue for a new trial or attempt to reduce the award through standard post-trial motions.
Where it fits for Menards
The Eau Claire judgment lands as Menards faces other legal scrutiny. In December 2025 the retailer agreed to a roughly $4.25 million multistate settlement over advertising for its long-running 11% rebate program, according to reporting by NBC Chicago. For now, the jury award in Eau Claire puts renewed attention on safety and training practices inside one of the Midwest’s largest home improvement chains.
